A　unified　procedure　is　proposed　in　this　study　to　analyze　the　free　and　transient　vibration　behaviors　of　a　composite　laminated　beam　subjected　to　general　boundary　conditions　under　thermal　scenario.　A　general　theoretical　quasi-3D　shear　deformation　beam　model　incorporating　both　the　shear　deformation　and　thickness　stretching　effects　is　derived　using　the　Hamilton＇s　principle.　The　coupling　of　axial–shear–flexural–stretching　with　the　thermal　stress　and　the　Poisson＇s　ratio　effect　is　taken　into　account.　The　natural　frequencies,　mode　shapes　and　transient　responses　of　composite　laminated　beams　are　evaluated　analytically　by　the　method　of　reverberation　ray　matrix　(MRRM).　The　inhomogeneous　term　and　the　artificial　spring　boundary　technique　are　introduced　in　MRRM　to　acclimatize　itself　to　the　general　boundary　conditions　and　the　impulse　loads　of　arbitrary　distributions.　The　validity,　reliability　and　efficiency　of　the　proposed　analytical　solutions　are　verified　by　comparing　with　the　results　obtained　from　the　published　studies　and　finite　element　simulation.　A　considerable　number　of　parametrical　studies　for　the　composite　laminated　beams　with　different　elastic　restraint　parameters,　lamination　schemes,　geometry　parameters,　material　properties　as　well　as　various　temperature　rises　are　also　analyzed　and　discussed.　The　present　procedure　is　powerful　in　terms　of　its　applicability　for　different　high-order　shape　functions　including　polynomial　and　non-polynomial,　as　well　as　thin　and　thick　beams　subjected　to　arbitrary　boundary　conditions　in　practical　engineering.　©　2021　Elsevier　Ltd